Common Skincare Myths Busted

By MiNDFOOD

Paris Pret a Porter Woman Spring/Summer 2020 Giambattista Valli Show
Paris Pret a Porter Woman Spring/Summer 2020 Giambattista Valli Show
Getting glowing, healthy skin is easy once you know how to separate fact from fiction.

Thanks to the internet and social media everyone’s a beauty expert. And while there’s certainly plenty of helpful information out there when it comes to deciphering fact from fiction, there is also an abundance of skincare myths that need to be busted. We’ve busted four common skincare myths below so you can get the glowing, healthy skin you want.

Skincare Myth: You Should Buy Skincare Based on Your Age

Fact: According to experts, the saying “age is just a number” should most definitely apply to skincare. Selecting products based on your age might seem like a simple way to decipher the abundance of skincare options available but it won’t necessarily ensure that the skincare is right for your skin type.

“Our ‘skin’ age is no longer our ‘chronological’ age,” she explains Tracy May-Harriott, global educator for Elizabeth Arden Professional and PrioriMay-Harriott. If you’ve ever been plagued with pesky acne even though your teenage years are well and truly behind you, then you’ll understand what May-Harriott means. Every individual’s skin type and concerns are unique which mean mature skin can be oily and breakout-prone, while someone in their 20s can have more signs of ageing on their skin that someone in their 40s.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of skincare to cater to individual concerns and May-Harriott says rather than focus on skincare that’s marketed for a certain age group, look for skincare that targets your concerns. “Always start slow, go slow with a new skincare routine and don’t do too much too soon to find products suitable for you,” May-Harriott adds that prevention is always better than treating problems as they arise. “You need to take into consideration that regardless of age the sooner you start to protect and prevent problems, the better,” she says. “Often, we wait until we see problems before we take more care of it. Have a good basic, protective skincare routine from an early age and you will age more gracefully for your years.

Skincare Myth: Exfoliation is the Answer for Blemish-Prone Skin

Fact: Exfoliating away excess oil sounds like it would make sense, right? According to May-Harriott the commonly accepted beauty myth couldn’t be further from the truth. “We’ve always said that exfoliation is the heart of a good skincare regimen,” says May-Harriott. “But so often those who need to exfoliate the most are the ones who do it the least,” she says.

According to May-Harriott one of the biggest beauty myths we’ve fallen for is that exfoliating more frequently will combat oily skin. In fact, the opposite is true. Before even heading to the beauty counter in search of the ideal exfoliator, May-Harriott says assessing your skin’s oil level is crucial.

“If you’ve got really oily skin the last thing you want to be doing is scrubbing every second day; you’re just going to increase oil production,” May-Harriott says explaining that good exfoliator won’t only remove dead skin, it will also activate sebaceous glands bringing more oil to the epidermis, creating a more hydrated complexion.“Think about that same action for someone who has really dry skin though. If you’ve got dry skin you need to be doing two or three mechanical scrubs a week to get moisture into the skin,” she explains.

Skincare Myth: Dehydrated and Dry Skin are the Same Thing

Fact: Dry and dehydrated might be two terms that are often thrown in together when it comes to describing skin, but Sothys National Technical Trainer and skincare expert, Vanessa Feehan-Meldrum, explains that they’re two very different skin types and therefore need different approaches where skincare is concerned.

“In very simple terms, dry skin is lacking lipids – oils whereas dehydrated skin is lacking water,” says Feehan-Meldrum. “Dry skin has certain characteristics – small pores, no visible oil flow on the skin, skin can feel rough and uneven. These skins may feel they need more moisturiser added after their first application,” she explains. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is generally more of a temporary affliction. “Dehydrated skin has a crepe-like look to it – when you smile you may see fine lines around your eyes that look like crepe paper – this type of skin often feels tight,” she says. 

Skincare Myth: My Diet Won’t Impact on my Skin as Long as I’m Using Great Skincare

Fact: While religiously using the right skincare routine can go along way towards ensuring great skin health, there’s much more at play when it comes to getting the radiant healthy. While the old wives’  tale that eating chocolate will cause your skin to break out, there’s more research being invested in nutrition and the role that diet plays in skin health. 

Carla Oates, the founder of The Beauty Chef, believes that everything that we eat – or don’t eat – affects the health and beauty of our skin. “This means no matter what your skin type or condition, it can be improved by diet,” she says. “Conversely, no matter how good your skin is naturally, problems can arise from a poor diet.” 

Katy Bacon, education manager for Murad Australasia Pacific, says she is frequently asked about the role that diet plays in skin health. ” We are ultimately what we eat,” she adds. “You have an estimated 19 million skin cells on every square inch of your body. You need to be asking if you’re feeding them right to look your best.” Bacon says that the connection between diet and skin health and ageing is becoming increasingly clear through scientific research. “That big weekend or those poor diet choices trigger hormonal fluctuations and inflammation in the body, both of which encourage acne.”

 

 

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